Pathways to equitable perinatal mental health care
Official title: Pathways to Perinatal Mental Health Equity
Run by University of Massachusetts, Worcester · NCT06790641 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether a healthcare-only approach or a healthcare-community partnership helps pregnant and postpartum people get better care for depression and anxiety.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 1270 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Massachusetts, Worcester Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 5, 2025 |
| Main results expected | October 1, 2030 |
| Study ends | October 1, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | April 20, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06790641 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Pregnant people or those up to one year postpartum who received care at a participating perinatal clinic, are 18 or older, and can give consent in English or Spanish are the ideal participants.
✕Probably not a fit
People who do not receive care at one of the participating sites, are under 18, cannot consent in the required languages, or need immediate specialized psychiatric care are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The study will compare two implementation approaches across 32 perinatal care settings in the United States: a health system–based model (PRISM) and a health care–community partnership model that includes PSI Peer Support. Sites are assigned to one of the two approaches and the research team will collect data from perinatal individuals, peer mentors, and clinical staff through interviews, focus groups, and program metrics. The trial emphasizes screening, referral pathways, and addressing social determinants of health to reduce gaps in care for marginalized groups. Results are intended to inform state and health system decisions about where to invest resources to expand access to perinatal mental health services.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could guide health systems and states to adopt the approach that most effectively expands timely access to treatment for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, particularly for underserved populations.
How similar studies have gone: Related collaborative care programs and peer-support initiatives for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders have shown benefit, but direct comparisons between healthcare-only and healthcare-community partnership models remain limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria for perinatal care setting team members: * Be employed by a participating perinatal care setting in a clinical role (including as an obstetrician-gynecologist, midwife, nurse practitioner, a nurse, a navigator, or administrative staff member who implemented the respective intervention during the study period). * Be 18 years of age or older * Provide verbal consent prior to the focus group or interview * Be proficient in English Inclusion Criteria for peer mentors: * Have completed PSI training to be a peer mentor * Be 18 years of age or older * Provide verbal consent prior to the focus group or interview * Be proficient in English Inclusion Criteria for perinatal individuals: * Have received perinatal care at a study partnering perinatal care setting during the study period * Be 18 years of age or older * Provide verbal consent prior to the focus group or interview * Be proficient in English or Spanish Exclusion Criteria: An individual who does not meet the inclusion criteria listed above will be excluded from participation in this study. There are no additional exclusion criteria.
Where it's running
-
UMass Chan Medical School
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Nancy Byatt, DO, MS, MBA — UMass Chan Medical School and UMass Memorial Health
- Study coordinator: Rebekah Getman, PhD
- Email: Rebekah.Getman2@umassmed.edu
- Phone: 6177636460
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Two-Door Doulas: Enhanced vs Standard Medicaid Doula Care in Pregnancy
This trial tests whether an enhanced, earlier, and more frequent doula support program helps pregnant people on Medicaid feel less depression and anxiety after birth compared with the standard Medicaid doula care in Florida.
-
Personalized mobile health support to prevent maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy
A personalized mobile health program added to ordinary care is tested to see if it can prevent depression and anxiety in pregnant people and support partners.
-
Early referral in perinatal mental health approach
We’re testing a mobile program in routine maternal care to see if early detection and referral for depression and anxiety in pregnant and recently postnatal women is feasible and acceptable, and whether an AI screening tool can help identify those at risk.
-
Virtual forest mindfulness for pregnant women
A randomized trial tests whether a VR forest mindfulness program helps improve mental health for pregnant women around 20–24 weeks of gestation, compared with standard mindfulness training.
-
Reaching Calm: A digital program to help prevent anxiety during pregnancy
A digital program called Reaching Calm is tested in obstetric clinics to see if it can help prevent anxiety for pregnant people at risk.
-
Doula Link: training doulas to support perinatal mental health
This test will see if training doulas with the Doula Link program helps pregnant and postpartum people with depression or anxiety.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.